Linoleum



Aug. 23,1932. c. F. HUMPHREYS ET AL 1,373,587

LINOIQEUM Fild March so, 1927 NNNNNN OR Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNETED STATES CHARLES F. HUMPHREYS AND HENNING w. "Pn-E NT I's, JR, OF AnoAs'rEmrENnsYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 ARMSTRONG com: COMPANY, OF LANcAsTEn, VANIA, A CORPORATION on PENNSYLVANIA.

Lmonnmvr Application filed March 30,1927. Serial Nb. warm.

The present invention relates to linoleum, and more particularlyto a linoleum containing lustrous materials whereby a desired texture or color may be imparted to the linoleum.

We provide a linoleum containing a lustrous material whichimparts a desired color or texture to the linoleum. The lustrous material may comprise a finely divided metallic substance, such as aluminum or bronze powder, or lustrous mineral matter, such as mica, which are particularly effective in the for mation of an imitation marble or tile. The added material may be used to replace a certain proportion of the usual inert ingredient in linoleum, or may be added tothe regular linoleum mix.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating certain embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a piece of linoleum having the lustrous materials uniformly distributed therethrough; and

. Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified structure. 7

The linoleum illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a backing 2 having a body 3 of linoleum composition thereover. Mixed into this body material is the lustrous material such as metallic powder or the like. The particles are diagrammatically illustrated at 4.

We prefer to add the metallic or mineral substance to the mix just before the mix is applied to the backing. In other words, we

do not prefer to have the metallic or mineral substance intimately mixed with the other constituents in the regular mixing machine. We have found that passing the lustrous substance through the regular mixing machine results in a dull finish, possibly because of an oil film completely surrounding the individual particles. When the metallic substance is added subsequently to the thorough mixing of the linoleum ingredients and is simply stirred through the same without an intimate mixture being effected, the resulting linoleum has a metallic lustre, and many desired texture effects can be produced bysuitable proportioning of the various ingredients.

If desired, the powdered metal maybe dropped on top of the mix so that it forms a PENNSYL- "superficial coating on the finished linoleum.

Thiswill give a metallic sheen to the surface, but does notprovide 'alinoleum which will maintain its original appearanceiafter having been worn. We prefer tomingle the lustrous substance with the various linoleum constituents prior'to a plication thereof to the backing so that t e particles are dis persed through the finished linoleum and'the desiredtexture effect still remains after the surfacexhas been worn; 7 c r 1 A linoleum wherein the lustrous particles are confined to the surface is illustrated in Figure? 2which shows a material having a backingr5 and a body6 of linoleum composition. The particles of lustrous material lie .in or on thesurface and are diagrammatically illustrated at 7.

Pleasing effects may be obtained .-in all itypesvyof linoleum by: the inclusion Of/111$- trous materials therein; various colorsimay terns, a haphazard occurrence of the mica gives an appearance of natural stone or tile. V

For example, a surface covering simulating hand-laid tile, such as disclosed in United States Reissue Patent No. 16,47 3, of November 16, 1926, having certain. portions varying strikingly from the remaining portions of the covering, is particularly adapted to the application of our invention. The tile-like units may include various lustrous materials enhancing their colorvalue and prominence.

WVhen forming a molded inlaid linoleum, the lustrous material is merely intermingled with other c0nstituents,-and the mixture is applied through the stencils in the usual manner.

Our invention is applicable to flexible, hard surfaced floor coverings of the linoleum type wherein a plastic mixture of ground cork is applied to a burlap backing. It is also applastic nitrocellulose backed with paper or felt.

Although we have described the preferred method of carrying out our invention, it will be understood that the lustrous minerals or metallic substances may be added to the linoleum mix at various stages in theprocess of making linoleum, depending upon the efi'ects desired, and that the invention may be other-o Wise practised and embodied within the scope of the following claims 1 j fWeclaimr- 1. The method of maklng molded inlaid linoleum comprising mixing the usual Vingredients, adding lustrous metallic particles thereto, effecting the cursory mixingof such j particles with the mixture of usual ingredientsrand thereafter applying the resulting mixto a backing, whereby lustrous particles Will appear inthe surface of the linoleum to impart thereto a'metallic sheen or lustre.

29 2. As an intermediate product in the manufacture of molded inlaid linoleum, a linoleum mix adapted for application through the stencils commonly employed in the manufacture of inlaid'linoleum, and having lustrous particles distributed therethrough character-' ized by having their lustrous appearance undimmed by oil coatings or the like. 3. The method of making linoleumcom- V prising effecting a mix of the usualingredients, adding lustrous metallic-particles thereto, mixing-the mass sufiiciently to incorporate the lustrous particles but insufficient to dim their lustre, and thereafter forming a sheet of linoleum' from the mix.- r V as Intestimony whereof, we have hereunto setour hands. I v J j Y CHARLES F. "HUMPHREYS; HENNING PRENTIS, J R. f 

